Vienna Transportation Tips by Ewingjr98

'Mode': TO
Category: Airplane
Getting TO/AROUND: Vienna International Airport is a nice, modern airport located just 20-30 minutes from downtown by auto or train. It has 2 terminals and 3 concourses serving about 80 airlines and serving as the home airport and hub for Austrian Airlines. Upon arriving at Vienna, we quickly went through customs and flowed through to the transportation area. We found a money exchange, picked up a few Euro, then headed toward the bus area.

Transportation to and from Vienna International includes direct Bus (6 EUR/person - 30 minutes), express CAT train (9 EUR/person - 16 minutes), local train (3 EUR/person) or taxi (23 EUR).

As could be expected, prices in the airport are very expensive... for example, a tall Starbucks cappuccino cost 3.50 EUR.

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Website: http://english.viennaairport.com/

'Mode': TO
Category: Bus
Getting TO/AROUND: We took the Postbus from the airport to central Vienna. We chose the bus to Schwedenplatz, which placed us at a good location just north of St. Stephens beside St. Ruprechts. The buses pick up passengers just outside the front doors of the terminal, and you purchase your 6 EUR/person ticket on the bus from the driver. The trip takes about 30-40 minutes, but this is the least expensive way (other than regional train service) to get to downtown Vienna. The buses are very clean and modern and the driver spoke good English.

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Website: www.postbus.at

'Mode': TO
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: The CAT is the fastest and one of the most convenient ways to get to the airport, but not really worth the money unless you are in a big hurry as the ride takes only 16 minutes. Once in the CAT station it is a pretty long walk to the check-in counters and the gates. The price is 9 EUR/person (if you buy online it is only 8 EUR) for a comfortable ride in a very nice, modern train. The regional trains run the same route as the CAT to the airport, but they make many more stops. The other benefit of the CAT, other then saving time, is that you can get your airline tickets and check your luggage at the station in downtown, rather than waiting in line at the airport.

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Website: http://www.cityairporttrain.com/home/

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Subway/Metro
Getting TO/AROUND: We didn't have much use fore the U-Bahn since central Vienna is very compact and walkable, but we did use it to get to Sudbahnhof on our way to Prague, to get into the city from Westbahnhof when returning from Bratislava, and to get to the CAT station when heading to the airport. Ticket prices within the city center are 1.50 EUR per person if you only go one zone; longer distances cost more.

The U-Bahn is clean, modern, and safe, so we had no problems whatsoever. The U-Bahn has 5 lines logically numbered U1, U2, U3, U4, and U6...U5 apparently was planned to be built, but was later merged into the U2.

The U-Bahn is very new, having just opened its first line in 1978. The newest line, U6 just opened in 1989.

As in some other European cities, you must stamp your tickets before entering the station.

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Website: www.wienerlinien.at

'Mode': TO
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: During my last visit to Europe, I flew in to Vienna, then took the train to Prague. Later, I returned to Vienna via train from Bratislava. The trip from Vienna to Prague cost 43 EUR per person, but only a sleeper car was available, which cost an extra 90 EUR (for a total of 176 EUR for two people). Because we were exhausted and jet-lagged from our flight over from the US, the sleeper car was well worth the money. If you've never used a sleeper car, it is a small car with 2-3 tiny bunk beds stacked along one wall. The other wall has a sink, mirror, and coat rack. The bathroom is down the hall at the end of the car, and there is an attendant in each car for safety. The trip took about 7 and 1/2 hours and trains depart Vienna from Sudbahnhof.

Our return trip to Vienna via Bratislava took just 1 hour and tickets cost just 294 Slovakian Koruna each (7.92 EUR or 9.53 USD). Trains from Bratislava arrive in both Westbahnhof and Sudbahnhof, but you can use a ticket to Vienna to go to ether station (even though the printed destination is always Sudbahnhof).

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